Child safety barrier with a locking device

• US 20070022666A1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baby Dan A/S
• Original Assignee: Baby Dan A/S
• Inventors: Andersen, Jesper, Hicks, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,481,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/394
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0002 with electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0046 Electric or magnetic means in the striker or on the frame; Operating or controlling the striker plate E05B47/0696, E05B63/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0014 to prevent opening by children E05B13/00 takes precedence; child-proof container closures B65D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/006 by displacement of the wing substantially in its own plane E05F7/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/163 a movable bolt being held in the striker by a permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/002 Safety guards or gates
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/04 of wing type, e.g. revolving or sliding trap doors; louvre doors or windows E06B7/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch

Abstract

A child safety barrier with a door secured in a U-shaped frame has a locking device which cannot be operated by children. The locking device has an activation unit which, when receiving a signal from a signal generator, releases the locking device so that the door may be opened or closed, which, in one embodiment, must take place within 2-4 seconds of the point of time when the signal generator is activated. The activation device may be formed by a mechanical activation mechanism, while the signal generator may be a push-button, an electric voltage or a remote control using a connection of the type IR, Bluetooth or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the activation device is connected with a push/pull rod whose one end is connected with a relay, while its other end is connected with a movable post extending inside a column in the U-shaped frame to which the door is secured. The invention provides a child safety barrier having a locking device where the locking device of the child safety barrier may be opened without using hands, feet and/or legs.

Claims

1. A child safety barrier with a door which has a locking device, wherein the locking device incorporates an activation unit which, when receiving a signal from a signal generator, releases the locking device so that the door may be opened or closed.

2. A child safety barrier according to claim 1, wherein the door is fixed in a U-shaped frame between two columns, where one column (13) accommodates a slidable column (46) on which a locking housing (10) is mounted through a groove (48) in the one column (13), while a horizontal, slidable locking pawl (8) is mounted in an outer post (2) of the door (4), said locking pawl being movable into a groove (11) in the locking housing, and wherein a magnet (9) is arranged at the bottom of the locking housing, and that an inclined slide face (12) is arranged inside the locking housing.

3. A child safety barrier according to claim 2, wherein the activation device is connected with one end of a push/pull rod (49), while the opposite end of the push/pull rod is connected with the slidable column (46).

5. A child safety barrier according to claim 3, wherein the activation device is formed by a relay.

6. A child safety barrier according to claim 3, wherein the activation device is formed by a mechanical activation mechanism disposed behind a cover or the like which cannot be opened by children.

7. A child safety barrier according to claim 1, wherein the signal generator is formed by a push-button.

8. A child safety barrier according to claim 7, wherein the push-button is disposed close to the door (4), but inaccessible to children.

9. A child safety barrier according to claim 1, wherein the signal generator is formed by an electric voltage.

10. A child safety barrier according to claim 1, wherein the signal generator is formed by a transmitter which causes a receiver to release the locking device so that the door may be opened.

11. A child safety barrier according to claim 1, wherein the signal generator is provided wirelessly from a remote control using a connection of the type IR, Bluetooth or the like.

12. A child safety barrier according to claim 1, wherein the door can be opened only after a time delay of 2-4 seconds after the activation device has received a signal from the signal generator.

13. A child safety barrier according to claim 1, wherein after activation of the activation device, the door can be opened only within 2-4 seconds.

14. A child safety barrier according to claim 1, wherein the door can be caused to assume a position in which it is closed only after a user has physically affected the door.

15. A child safety barrier according to claim 1, wherein the door can be closed only after a parent has physically affected the door.

4. A child safety barrier according to claim 4, wherein the push/pull rod (49), over part of its length, is moved through holes in a housing (44) having upper and lower surfaces, said holes being arranged in the upper and lower surfaces, and wherein a spring (43) is mounted inside the housing whose one end abuts one of the surfaces, while the opposite end of the spring is secured to the push/pull rod (49) so that the push/pull rod is affected by the force provided by the spring.